In a tense escalation this Sunday, Israel has blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza and carried out an airstrike, intensifying the standoff over the six-week-old ceasefire. Hamas has now called on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to step in and facilitate dialogue.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the adoption of a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover. This move comes just hours after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire expired.
If the proposal is accepted, the truce would halt fighting until the end of Ramadan around March 31 and the Jewish Passover holiday around April 20.
Ceasefire Phases
The proposed truce is conditional on Hamas releasing half of the living and dead hostages on the first day, with the remainder to be released at the conclusion, provided a permanent ceasefire is agreed upon.
However, Hamas remains committed to the initially agreed ceasefire, which was set to move into a second phase focused on negotiating a permanent end to the war. The group has rejected the idea of a temporary extension to the existing 42-day truce.
Highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire, local health officials reported that Israeli gunfire resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians in separate attacks across the northern and southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military stated that \"suspects\" were identified near its troops in northern Gaza and had planted a bomb. An airstrike was subsequently carried out to \"eliminate the threat.\"
As the ceasefire teeters on the brink, all eyes remain on mediator efforts to prevent further escalation and promote lasting peace in the region.
